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'Fire facial' latest beauty treatment to hit China

ninemsn

Beauty is pain, so we're told, but the latest trend in China – which involves setting your face on fire – may be pushing the boundaries just a little too far.

The Huǒ liáo treatment, more commonly known as a "fire facial", involves draping problem areas of the body or face with a towel soaked in alcohol and a specially prepared "secret elixer", Asia's Rocket News 24 reports.

Once everything is set up, the area is lit on fire for a few seconds before the flame is put out.

The therapy, which is based on ancient Chinese medicine, is claimed to relax muscles, address sagging, wrinkles and even treat colds and obesity.

A photo of a woman undergoing the treatment was posted on the Chinese message board tt.mop in late February.

The caption on the photo read: "My mum went to get her face done at the beauty salon so I went with her. What I saw … instantly shocked me … I couldn't look."